Get Connected Day!

You gave me a laugh Ree!  I can just picture my boys with the textas too!!  Maybe we could make papier mache boobs too!!

You gave me a laugh Ree!  I can just picture my boys with the textas too!!  Maybe we could make papier mache boobs too!!

NO animals were harmed in these events!

Ha Ha

Isn't this good that we can get a laugh!!!!

Being an artist I said it as I thought, can you just paint one on?

I just think the whole process is amazing full-stop.

And to feel good about it all, is just wonderful.

Thanks to advances in science and technology we get good boobs....

yeh.

Isn't this good that we can get a laugh!!!!

Being an artist I said it as I thought, can you just paint one on?

I just think the whole process is amazing full-stop.

And to feel good about it all, is just wonderful.

Thanks to advances in science and technology we get good boobs....

yeh.

Hiya Girls,

Was just reading through to catch up and nearly wet myself at Heidi's comment "can you get it coloured in?"  Sorry, I'm not laughing at you Heidi, I was laughing because I had a mental picture of my boys sneaking in while I was asleep and using their textas to give me multi-coloured nipples.....ROFL....they have coloured in their pet cat, guinea pig and any poor bugs as well as the neighbours "highly bred very expensive" poodle. Probably the most fun the poor dog has had in years, so not too much of a stretch to imagine me as the next victim.

Too funny.....

Really that sounds fantastic!!!!

What great feedback.

Can you get it coluoured in??

Please explain in simple terms what the

TRAM flap stands for and means ? Spell it out to me.

Had ultrasound today and previous lump couldn't be found?

All Good, nothing in lymphs.

Booked into speak to Familial Cancer Counsellor end May.

Hi again Heidi

I probably wouldn't go for a TRAM flap if you don't have a good pain threshold - it is certainly more painful than the Lat Dorsi reconstruction that I had on the other side!  I only needed a couple of Panadol after the Lat Dorsi and had very little pain at all!  You may be lucky and they may be able to do the op without using your muscle.....I'm not sure of the pros and cons but I know that my surgeon uses the muscle to get a better end result, but other surgeons obviously think differently based on what Ree has had done.

You shouldn't need to have any lymph nodes removed unless there is evidence of cancer in the breast.  I only had 5 taken out from the second time and none of them were cancerous.  My risk of lymphodema is fairly low.

My reconstructed nipple is healing beautifully :)  I am REALLY happy with the result.  You wouldn't know that it wasn't a real one other than the lack of colour at the moment.

Have a good day,

Louise

Hi Louise,

I have Rhematoid Arthritis as well and get painful flare up's with the inflamation. Mainly in my right arm. But also in my knees and feet. I do Hydro therapy to try and keep movement going.

With my past 3 C-Sections I felt a lot of pain and they didn't seem to give me enough pain meds. So don't have a good pain threshold.

I'm wondering how I would make it through this type of proceedure?

I don't want to get to the stage where they take my lymph glands under armpit as I'd no doubt end up with Lymphodema like one of my cousins did!

There shouldn't be too much scaring if they just go through the nipple area.

Lots of things sound quite good when I discuss them, not as much horror stories as one's mind could imagine. So good stuff.

Are you reconstructed nipples healed after surgery as you are still wearing compression like top? And if so are you happy with the appearance?

Heidi

Hi Again,

Don't be afraid to ask questions!  There is no such thing as a silly one and if you don't ask, you won't learn :)

I have an eye shaped cut in each breast which is where they did the mastectomy - there is no cut underneath, everything was done through this "eye".  The nipple was removed as part of this eye shaped incision.  After everything is all settled down after surgery (really it is the last thing to be done) the surgeon did the nipple.

I had to wear a crop-top type bra after surgery (and still am now) for about 6 weeks.  This is very comfortable and doesn't push on the scars.

If you already have a C-sec scar they may be able to open that back up (but extend it - the cut goes hip bone to hip bone).  I certainly had more tissue than was needed for the one breast that I had removed and they did a lovely tummy tuck on me :)  I got rid of all that extra fat and it was the one really positive thing to happen at that time of my life.  They just used what they needed to make the breast.

It is not an easy operation - you need to have a really good, positive frame of mind before you get this type of op done.  After you have a TRAM flap it is very difficult to stand up straight and it can be a bit painful to do this first of all.  You need to work hard at the physio exercises that they give you to do and, if you do, you will have a great outcome.  I wish I could have used my own tissue both times but it wasn't to be.

Louise